Dalian Natural History Museum (大连自然博物馆) is a comprehensive museum focused on the collection, research, and exhibition of specimens related to geology, paleontology, zoology, and botany. It traces its origins back to 1907 during the Qing Dynasty (Guangxu’s reign). The current museum building features a modern European architectural style, covering a total area of 15,000 square meters, with 10,000 square meters dedicated to exhibitions.
According to its official website, the museum houses 12 exhibition halls, including themes such as Earth, Dinosaurs, Marine Life, Northeast Forest Animals, Wetlands, Biodiversity, and Fossils from Western Liaoning Province. The museum boasts nearly 200,000 specimens, including over 6,000 rare items. One of its highlights is the extensive collection of marine biology specimens, which includes over 20 species of marine mammals, making it the largest collection of its kind in natural history museums across China. Among its most impressive exhibits is the 66.7-ton specimen of a North Atlantic right whale, underscoring the museum’s focus on marine life and paleontology.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Exhibitions in Dalian Natural History Museum
- Vlog about Dalian Natural History Museum
- History of Dalian Natural History Museum
- Attractions near Dalian Natural History Museum
Basic Information
Estimated Length of Tour | 2 hours |
Ticket Price | Free |
Opening Hours | 9.00 – 16.30; Last admission: 16.00 Closed on Mondays |
Telephone Number | 0086-0411-84691290 0086-0411-84675544 |
Location and Transportation
Dalian Natural History Museum is located at No. 40, Xicun Street, Heishijiao, Shahekou District, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 16, 209, or 523, get off at Dalian Marine University Stop (大连海洋大学站), and walk about 350 meters to the east to reach the museum.
Metro: The closest metro station to Dalian Natural History Museum is Heishijiao (黑石礁, Black Stone Reef) on line 1. After getting out of the station from Exit B, walk about 600 meters to the south to reach the museum.
Exhibitions in Dalian Natural History Museum
Lobby (Entrance Hall)
Upon entering the lobby of the Dalian Natural History Museum, visitors are greeted by a massive 22-meter-long and 3-meter-high relief sculpture that merges the themes of “Nature and Humanity,” creating an awe-inspiring visual impact. In the Dinosaur Hall, a 40-meter-long panoramic painting and lifelike dinosaur models vividly depict the entire process of the dinosaurs’ emergence, evolution, and extinction. Visitors can gain a direct understanding of these ancient creatures and their environments.
Kenneth E. Behring Hall
The Kenneth E. Behring Hall features over a hundred specimens of African wildlife, displayed in ecological landscapes to showcase the relationships between wild animals and their environments. These ecological exhibits include scenes such as the Great Migration of African Wildlife, African Savannas, African Tropical Rainforests, and African Deserts.
Cenozoic Hall
The Cenozoic era represents the most recent stage of Earth’s history, divided into the Paleogene, Neogene, and Quaternary periods. The Quaternary is the latest and during this period, the appearance of life forms began to resemble those of today, with the evolution of mammals becoming particularly significant. The Cenozoic Hall focuses on the museum’s collection of Quaternary fossils, introducing visitors to the mammalian evolution during the Late Cenozoic.
Northeast Forest Animal Hall
Entering the Northeast Forest Animal Hall feels like stepping into a dense, pristine forest, with various animals gathering around, evoking a deep sense of responsibility to protect nature and wildlife. The northeastern region of China is home to vast coniferous and mixed forests, making it one of the richest forested areas in the country. This hall showcases the unique wildlife of the region coexisting in harmony with the forest ecosystem, providing a vivid portrayal of the natural balance in these forests.
Terrestrial Flora and Fauna Hall
The Terrestrial Flora and Fauna Hall features specimens of plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and birds closely related to land environments. It highlights the fascinating organisms and phenomena in the world of life, presenting a vibrant and dynamic picture of life on Earth.
Wetlands Hall
Wetlands are often referred to as the “kidneys of the Earth” for their role in nurturing a diverse array of plants, animals, and microorganisms. The Wetlands Hall showcases the natural ecological environment of wetlands through five open landscape displays, offering visitors a glimpse into the rich biodiversity these ecosystems support.
Marine Invertebrates and Algae Hall
The ocean is often considered the cradle of life, home to a vast array of marine organisms. The Marine Invertebrates and Algae Hall introduces visitors to various marine species, such as algae, sea mollusks, shrimp, crabs, and echinoderms. These species play essential roles in human life, from food to clothing, and even housing materials, emphasizing the strong connection between marine life and human existence.
Cartilaginous Fish Hall
The Cartilaginous Fish Hall showcases species like sharks, rays, and chimeras, which are part of the cartilaginous fish group. These fish have skeletons made of cartilage, often calcified but lacking true bone tissue. They also have no swim bladders, making them well-suited for ocean life. Some sharks, renowned for their ferocity, dominate the seas and are often called the “rulers of the ocean.”
Bony Fish Hall
The Bony Fish Hall highlights bony fish, the largest group of fish, with over 30,000 species, making up more than half of all vertebrate species. Bony fish have skeletons made of true bone and possess bony, plate-like scales. Most bony fish also have swim bladders, allowing them to control buoyancy in water, a key trait that aids their survival and dominance in diverse aquatic environments.
Marine Mammals Hall
The ancestors of marine mammals transitioned from land to ocean in ancient times. Over millions of years, through natural selection and adaptation, they evolved to thrive in the marine environment. The Marine Mammals Hall features impressive specimens of North Pacific right whales, gray whales, fin whales, sperm whales, killer whales, and beaked whales, offering insight into these remarkable creatures of the ocean.
Mesozoic Era Hall
The Mesozoic Era, which began around 225 million years ago and ended 66 million years ago, is divided into the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. It was the age when dinosaurs emerged and thrived, alongside other ancient creatures like ichthyosaurs, pterosaurs, early mammals, and birds. The Mesozoic Era Hall presents a comprehensive overview of this period, covering its unique environment, climate, and the diverse life forms that defined this dynamic era.
Earth Hall
he Earth Hall explores the planet’s vast geological and mineral resources. It emphasizes the importance of understanding, preserving, and protecting our Earth, highlighting humanity’s shared responsibility to safeguard this precious home for future generations.
Vlog about Dalian Natural History Museum
History of Dalian Natural History Museum
Dalian Natural History Museum has a rich and fascinating history, deeply intertwined with the political and cultural developments of the region. The museum’s origins date back to the late 19th century, and its evolution reflects the various historical periods that shaped Dalian.
Early Beginnings: Russian Influence
The original site of Dalian Natural History Museum was a city hall building constructed in 1898 during the Russian occupation of Dalian. Located near Victory Bridge North in Dalian, this structure was one of the earliest and most distinctive buildings in the city, exemplifying Russian architectural style. It stood as a symbol of the city’s beginnings and reflected the deep influence of Russian colonization on Dalian.
Japanese Occupation: The Formation of the Museum
In 1907, during the Japanese occupation of Northeast China following the Russo-Japanese War, the museum’s predecessor was established. The “Geological Survey Institute” was founded by the South Manchuria Railway Company, a powerful Japanese corporation controlling much of the region’s infrastructure and resources. This institute laid the foundation for what would later become the Dalian Natural History Museum, focusing on geological research and the collection of natural specimens.
By 1923, the institute had amassed a significant collection of natural specimens from across Northeast China. A display room was added to showcase rock minerals and paleontological specimens, highlighting their geographical origins, abundance, extraction potential, and usage. This initial exhibit was not open to the general public, catering instead to Japanese elites for research and private viewings.
Expansion and Public Access
The year 1926 marked a significant development in the museum’s history, as the growing number of exhibits necessitated the expansion of its facilities. The collection now spanned natural resources from across Northeast China, Mongolia, and beyond. This prompted the transformation of the display room into the “Manchurian-Mongolian Material Reference Hall,” which officially opened to the public. This transition was pivotal, as it expanded the museum’s role from a research institution to an educational and public resource center.
In 1928, the museum underwent further expansion, adding 2,000 square meters to the original structure. The museum’s collections were significantly enriched with geological specimens from Siberia, Europe, and North America. The renamed “Manchurian-Mongolian Resource Museum” became a scientific and cultural hub, displaying not only minerals but also agricultural, livestock, forestry, and fishery specimens from Northeast China and Mongolia.
The Manchurian Resource Museum: Further Growth
In 1932, the museum changed its name to the “Manchurian Resource Museum” and expanded its exhibits to include ethnographic displays, showcasing the customs and cultures of people from Northeast China and Mongolia. This period marked the museum’s transition into a more comprehensive institution, one that was no longer exclusively focused on natural history but also included elements of anthropology and regional culture.
Post-World War II: Chinese Control
With the end of World War II and the liberation of Dalian on August 23, 1945, the museum came under the control of the China Changchun Railway Company. Renamed the “Northeast Local History Museum,” it was placed under the direction of Soviet geologist Yegorov, who was tasked with revamping the exhibits. This era marked a shift in the museum’s focus toward documenting the local history and resources of Northeast China under Chinese and Soviet management.
New Era: The People’s Republic of China
In November 1950, the Northeast Resource Museum was handed over to the Dalian Municipal Government by the China Changchun Railway Bureau, marking a new era for the institution. It was rebranded as the “Northeast Resource Museum” and its exhibits were updated to reflect the natural resources of Northeast China and the achievements of the newly established People’s Republic of China. The museum now played a critical role in promoting patriotism, socialism, and scientific education for the general public.
The Naming of Dalian Natural History Museum
In 1959, to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan, the museum was officially named the “Dalian Natural History Museum.” This momentous occasion was marked by the renowned scholar Guo Moruo, then president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, personally inscribing the museum’s name. This designation solidified the museum’s role as one of the foremost institutions for natural history in China.
Modern Developments: The New Museum
In October 1998, the Dalian Natural History Museum reached another milestone with the completion and opening of its new facility. The modern building, constructed in a European architectural style, features 15,000 square meters of space, with 10,000 square meters dedicated to exhibition areas. The museum’s collections now include nearly 200,000 specimens, with over 6,000 rare items.